Endangered Red Wolf pups born at Fresno Chaffee Zoo

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Zoo officials said the wolf gave birth to a litter of three healthy pups on Sunday.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo said three endangered red wolf pups have been born and were discovered by zookeepers on Sunday. They said while the pups are currently on exhibit, they are deep inside one of the two dens protected by their mother -- out of site from public view. They expect the pups to begin emerging on their own in four to six weeks.

The zoo said the red wolf is one of the most endangered canids in the world. Once occurring throughout the eastern and south-central United States, red wolves were decimated by predator-control programs and the loss and alteration of habitats.

The red wolves at Fresno Chaffee Zoo are part of the species survival program.